Quick question: where to track school assignments?

09-09-2010, 02:21 PM

Lets say I get assigned chapters 1, 2, and 3 from a school textbook. The next class is Tuesday, so I have to have them read by then. However, I know that Monday is really busy so I've decided I want to have two chapters read tomorrow, and one on Saturday.

Comment

If they can be done ANY day or BY a day, they go on your Next Actions lists (if BY a day, include a due date)

They need to be done by a day (in my example, by Wednesday).

However, I want to have assignments done before their hard deadlines (in my example, Friday and Saturday). How do I track those deadlines? They aren't hard deadlines, but they are fairly important, especially if I know I'm busy Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and I may not get them done if I don't do them on Friday or Saturday.

Additionally, if I know my reading assignments for the rest of the semester, how far in advance should I be placing actions on my Next Action list?

However, I want to have assignments done before their hard deadlines (in my example, Friday and Saturday).

My action list is in Excel, and I came across the same problem. I would note the hard due dates but didn't have the instrument to capture that I wanted the thing done in advance. So I now have two colums with dates. One with a due date (in your case that would be wednesday), one with a wish date (in your example friday and/or saturday).

This allows me to sort/filter for due dates and for wish dates, and to see immediately what the items are that NEED to get done today (because of a due date, not calendar wise), and the items that I would LIKE to finish today. When something urgent and unexpected comes up today, I can see what items I can drop, and which ones I do need to do.

Comment

On your Calendar or in your Tickler file, put a reminder/checkup question to yourself.

Example:
Chapters 1 and 2 are due on Tuesday.
You know you have a busy day Monday.
Sunday you want to go ice skating.
For Friday or Saturday, include a note to check the status of that assignment. (Chapters 1&2 done? Busy weekend ahead)

This will be enough to remind you to think about it and to keep you from getting distracted. They are not deadlines. They are reminders of an impending deadline.